Acorp 5ALI6, super socket 7 board, have a question \ VOGONS

Acorp 5ALI6, super socket 7 board, have a question

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First post, by pshipkov

Posted on 2023-09-05, 07:04

pshipkov Offline

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Revision E
https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/ford-lian-agp-ali

My level of interest in SS7 stuff is low, but since this came to me for free decided to give it a spin.
For the purpose converted a K6-2+ 550ACZ to K6-3+.
Also, swapped 2-3 bulged capacitors.
Everything works as expected.

Now the question.
Noticed an unpopulated pads for what appears to be level 2 cache tag.
Soldered one. No observable difference in behavior.
There are few more resistor pads.
Will spend few moments tomorrow with the multimeter and see what comes out of it.
At the same time there are pictures of different revisions of the motherboard with the chip installed, but they have the resistor pads unpopulated as well.

Figured i should ask around first if there is tribal knowledge about that stuff, before get quick with the soldering iron.
Any hints ?

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Reply 1 of 7, by majestyk

Posted on 2023-09-05, 07:38

majestyk Offline

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What revision does the ALi northbridge have? Depending on this an external TAG-cache chip is needed or not.
Revision "E" (and lower) need an external TAG chip, "G" anh "H" have a functional integrated TAG and don´t need an ext. one, not sure about "F" at the moment...

Last edited by majestyk on 2023-09-05, 07:42. Edited 1 time in total.

Reply 2 of 7, by pshipkov

Posted on 2023-09-05, 07:42

pshipkov Offline

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It is exactly the same as the Rev E and F in TRW pictures. I think that will be ts07 ?

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Reply 3 of 7, by majestyk

Posted on 2023-09-05, 07:48

majestyk Offline

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What´s written on the ALi M1542 chip at the end of the line above "TAIWAN" (last character)?

Reply 4 of 7, by dm-

Posted on 2023-09-05, 10:01

dm- Offline

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in case you using k6+ cpu, on board cache being a L3 cache and makes no difference to overall performance (1-3%).

Reply 5 of 7, by pshipkov

Posted on 2023-09-05, 15:43

pshipkov Offline

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Ends with G.

dm-, i am sure the benefit will be minimal. This is more for having a few minutes of casual retro-fun than achieving any specific objectives.

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Reply 6 of 7, by majestyk

Posted on 2023-09-05, 18:49

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"G" northbridge has it´s own TAG RAM - functional and active, if there was no external TAG chip present. Adding one will, in the best case, have no effect at all.

Reply 7 of 7, by pshipkov

Posted on 2023-09-05, 19:30

pshipkov Offline

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I kind of derived that already from where previous messages were heading, but thank you for the confirmation.

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